Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought of The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Nathan Prince) 03.06.2004 (Article Archived on 17.06.2004)

This past week we celebrated Pentecost Sunday, the day we remember the time when Christ filled the church with the power of His spirit and sent it out into the world to bring His peace, joy and forgiveness to all mankind. This is a continuation of all the wonderful gifts that we have received in the Easter season.

This past week we celebrated Pentecost Sunday, the day we remember the time when Christ filled the church with the power of His spirit and sent it out into the world to bring His peace, joy and forgiveness to all mankind.  This is a continuation of all the wonderful gifts that we have received in the Easter season.

            In the readings we heard how, on this day so many years ago, the apostles were visited by the spirit and suddenly all could converse and understand one another, even though they spoke different languages.  What a wonder this would be if it could happen again, in today’s world.  Would we be able to end a lot of the strife if we could understand each other?  If there were no barriers of language, race, religion or ideology? 

            Perhaps we have never lost this wondrous gift from God.  Maybe many of us have just forgotten how to use it.  Maybe all we have to do is listen a little harder, pay a little more attention to the other side of an argument, be a little more understanding.  As someone who is currently trying to learn another language, I fully comprehend how difficult it is to understand another person who is speaking in what sounds like gibberish to us.  But, with careful study, and a lot of hard work, some of it starts to make sense.  Maybe that is what is required from us all, a lot more effort. 

            St. Paul reminds us that we all make up the body of Christ, each with his or her own gifts.  We are all part of a whole.  St. John reminds us of the time that Jesus breathed on the disciples and told them to “receive the Holy Spirit.  He then gave them, and through them, us, the gift to forgive others of their sins.  To be able to ask for and grant forgiveness is another of God’s wonderful gifts, and yet another step in our quest to enter into God’s kingdom.

            Jesus granted us His finest gift when He said to us:  “Peace be with you”.  Let us remember His words, and ask Him to grant us the ability to listen a little closer, work a little harder to understand, and most of all, to have the strength to forgive those who have caused us pain.  And to understand when we should ask for forgiveness.

            It was also Memorial Day weekend, and so let us always remember as well, all the men and women of our countries who have died defending us.  It is a time to recall those whose lives were cut short by conflict.  On this special day, may we be especially mindful of today’s lessons, and hope that people everywhere take them to heart, so that future generations will not have added too many to this heartbreaking list. 

            May God bless us all with the courage and strength to listen to and heed His lessons.